Pembrey War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
Andrew Barbour, Private, 49368, Lancashire Fusiliers. Andrew was the Son of William and Jane Barbour, of Springwell Place, Stewarton, Ayreshire, and enlisted at Pembrey into the Royal Engineers. He subsequently transferred into the 19th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who were attached to the 49th (West Riding) Division as Pioneers. The Division moved to France between the 12th and the 19th April, 1915 and saw its first major action on the Somme, during the Battle of Albert. They remained on the Somme, taking part in the Battle of Bazentin, the Battle of Pozieres, and the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and the following year saw action at Third Ypres, during the Battle of Poelcapelle. The Division remained in Flanders over the final winter of the war, and it was here that they met the brunt of the German attacks on the Lys in April, 1918, taking part in the Battle of Messines, the Battle of Bailleul (and the Defence of Neuve Eglise), the First Battle of Kemmel, and the Second Battle of Kemmel. After the tide of war had been turned, with the Allied successes on the Somme during August, 1918, they took the offensive. The 49th Division took part in the resulting Pursuit to the Selle, the Battle of the Selle and the Battle of Valenciennes, which saw the war out. Andrew was killed in action during the Pursuit to the Selle on the 13th October, 1918. He was 32 years old, and is buried at Haspres Coppice Cemetery, Haspres, France. Not on Memorial.
Daniel Charles Bevan, Seaman, R/6216, Royal Naval Division. Daniel was born on the 26th June, 1897, the Son of John Arthur Bevan, of Wenfa House, Pembrey. He was an Army Reservist prior to the war, and then joined the Anson Battalion, 189th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The Naval Brigades were originally sent to Antwerp and Dunkirk in September and October, 1914 to guard against invasion by the Germans. However Antwerp fell to the Germans soon after, and so many of the RND units were withdrawn to England. After a lengthy period of refit and training the Division moved to Egypt preparatory to the Gallipoli campaign. Landing on the 25th April, 1915 the Division was soon transferred from the authority of the Admiralty to the War Office on 29th April 1916, and was redesignated the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division on the 19th July, 1916. The Division moved to France, arriving at Marseilles between the 12th and 23rd May, 1916 and moved to positions on the Somme, where it took part in the Battle of the Ancre, and the resulting Operations on the Ancre. In April, 1917 the Division were at Arras, and fought at the Second Battle of the Scarpe, where they captured Gavrelle. They then fought at the Battle of Arleux, before moving north to Ypres, where they took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele. Their next major action was at Cambrai, during the Action of Welch Ridge, and they were still in the area when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive, and fought at the Battle of St Quentin, where Daniel was killed in action on the 24th March, 1918 aged just 20. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Arras Memorial, France.
Joseph Bulcock, Private, 63064, Welsh Regiment. Joseph was the Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Bulcock, of 16, Fir Street, Burnley. He enlisted at Pembrey into the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, attached to the 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Division assembled around Bulford during September 1914. Divisional training was completed near Tidworth, from March 1915, and the Butterfly Division crossed to France between the 11th and the 21st July 1915, and moved to positions near Loos. The Division fought during the opening attack of the Battle of Loos, and then moved to the Somme, where they took part in the second wave of the attack on Ovillers-La Boiselle on the 1st July, capturing the village at heavy cost, and fought through the Somme Battles of Pozieres and the Ancre in 1916. They then moved north to Ypres, taking part in the Battle of Messines, and fought on the Menin Road, where Joseph was wounded. He was transported back to the Casualty Clearing Station at Haringhe for treatment, but died of wounds there on the 20th September, 1917 age 39. He is buried at Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Belgium. Not on Memorial.
Frederick Arthur Campbell, Second Lieutenant, Tank Corps. Frederick was the Husband of F. M. Campbell, of Sunny Bank, Gws-cwm Road, Pembrey. He had been commissioned into the Tank Corps, and served with their 2nd Battalion. Frederick was killed in action during the terrible days of the German Spring Offensive on the Somme on the 22nd March, 1918. He was 34 years old, and is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial, France. Not on Memorial.
William Johnston Campbell, Private, 310004, Gordon Highlanders. William was born at Stewarton, Ayrshire, and enlisted at Pembrey into the 7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, attached to the 153rd Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. The Division were in France by early May 1915, and was hurried to the defence of Ypres. The enemy had attacked on the 22nd April 1915, using poison gas for the first time. All available reserves were deployed to stop the Germans taking advantage of the initial surprise. The Division remained in action until moved to the area of Estaires on the River Lys, on the 19th May. They then fought at the Battle of Festubert, and took part in an unsuccessful attack near Givenchy (the Second Action of Givenchy) on the 15th June, 1915, and shortly afterwards moved south to the area north of the River Somme. They relieved a French Division near Hamel, and subsequently took part in several of the engagements that are now considered to comprise the Battle of the Somme 1916, particularly at High Wood in late July 1916. They captured the enemy strong hold of Beaumont-Hamel on the 13th November 1916, taking more than 2000 prisoners. There is now a Divisional memorial at Beaumont-Hamel. During December and January in the bitter winter of 1916-17, the Division remained on the Somme in the area of Courcelette, and saw their next major action in the opening days of the offensive at Arras, as part of the opening attack, the First Battle of the Scarpe. They then fought at the Second Battle of the Scarpe before being brought out of the line to rest. They re-entered the line on the 15th April, and eight days later took part in an attack near Roeux, which they captured before moving north to Ypres. Here they took part in the opening assault of the Third Battle of Ypres, on the 31st July, 1917, at the Battle of Pilckem. They advanced on Langemarck before being relieved. They then took part in the Battle of the Menin Road before being moved south, where they took part in the Battle of Cambrai, attacking in the area of Cantaing and Flesquieres. William was killed in action here on the 20th November, 1917, and is buried at Orival Wood Cemetery, Flesquieres. Not on Memorial.
William Lewis Christie, Third Engineer, Mercantile Marine. William was the Son of Alexander and Alison Turnbull Christie, of "Denholm," Victoria Avenue, Quinton, Birmingham. He served in the Mercantile Marine aboard the SS Malda, which was a Clyde built Passenger Cargo Vessel. On the 25th August, 1917 she was torpedoed by the German Submarine U70, 130 miles West by South of Bishop Rock. She had almost finished her voyage from Boston for London. William must have been washed ashore at Pembrey, as he is buried there, at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard. He was 28 years old. Not on Memorial.
James Davies, Private, 17075, South Wales Borderers. James was the Son of David and Mary Davies, of Penstar Farm, Pembrey. He enlisted at Llanelli into the 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, who were attached to the 25th Division as Pioneers. The Division landed in France on the 26th September, 1915, and were posted to the Vimy area, where they defended Vimy Ridge against a German attack in May 1916, then moved to the Warloy area and attacked on the 3rd July near Thiepval. James must have been wounded during this abortive attack, and was transported to the Base Hospital at Rouen, where he sadly died of wounds on the 10th July, 1916. He was 23 years old, and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen.
William Fanning, Private, 10868, Irish Guards. William was born at Ballymony, Wexford, and resided at Pembrey prior to the war. He enlisted at Llanelli into the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, who had begun the war as a Home Service Battalion, and on the 17th August, 1915 the Battalion transferred to the 2nd Brigade, Guards Division. This Division has the distinction of being formed in France in August 1915. The various Guards units that had been with other Divisions were withdrawn to be brought together to create this fine formation. It remained on the Western Front throughout the war and saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on the 25th September, 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. In July, 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Morval, capturing Lesboeufs Village. They remained here for the winter, and in March, 1917 took part in the advance caused by the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Later that year they moved north to Ypres, where they fought at the Battle of Pilckem, where William was killed in action on the 31st July, 1917. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Not on Memorial.
Thomas George, Second Lieutenant, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Thomas was the Son of John and Lettice George, of Brynhir, Pembrey. He had been commissioned into the 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who were attached to the 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division had landed in France during December 1915 and had spent their first winter in the trenches near Armentieres. In June they marched south to the Somme, where they were tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. The attack on the wood began on the 7th July, but met with fierce resistance, and it took until the 14th July to clear the wood. The Division suffered terrible casualties at Mametz, and were taken out of the line, and moved to Ypres to rebuild. Here they fought at Pilckem and Langemarck, then moved to Armentieres, where they remained from September 1917 until March, 1918 when the German Spring Offensive was launched. The British had been over-run on the Somme, and so in April the Division was moved south, taking up positions North of Albert, from where they weathered the storm of the coming months, until the war turned during the Battle of Amiens, on the 8th August, 1918. The Germans had now lost the upper hand, and the British regained the lost ground on the Somme after an attack which began on the 21st August, with the 38th Welsh in the midst of the attack during the Battle of Albert. Thomas was killed in action just 6 days into the attack, on the 27th August, 1918. He was 24 years old, and is buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.
Frederick George Hallett, Private, 3220, Welsh Guards. Frederick was born in Plymouth. He resided at Pembrey prior to the war, and enlisted at nearby Llanelli into the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, attached to the 3rd Brigade, Guards Division. This Division has the distinction of being formed in France in August 1915. The various Guards units that had been with other Divisions were withdrawn to be brought together to create this fine formation. It remained on the Western Front throughout the war and saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on the 25th September, 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. In July, 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Morval, capturing Lesboeufs Village. They remained here for the winter, and in March, 1917 took part in the advance caused by the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Later that year they moved north to Ypres, where they fought at the Battle of Pilckem, and then at the Battle of the Menin Road, Battle of Poelcapelle and the First Battle of Passchendaele. November saw them move south again, where they took part in the Battle of Cambrai. They remained in the area over the final winter of the war, and were stationed near Gouzeaucourt when the German Spring Offensive hit the area on the 21st March, 1918, at the Battle of St Quentin. The British retreated in the face of this onslaught, fighting at the First Battle of Bapaume, before the Guards Division retreated west and faced the Germans at the First Battle of Arras, 1918. After this, the German Offensive petered out on the Somme, and on the 8th August the Australian Corps advanced towards the town of Villers Brettoneux and won a mighty battle there against the Germans, thus turning the war. On the 21st August the British launched an attack on the Somme, and the Guards Division fought here at the Battle of Albert, and then pushed east, fighting at the Battle of Bapaume. From here on the Allies had the upper hand, and moved towards the Hindenburg Line, where the Guards Division fought at the Battle of Havrincourt and the Battle of the Canal du Nord. Frederick was killed in action here on the 27th September, 1918, and is buried at Louverval Military Cemetery, Doignies.
Alfred James Holt, Private, 32901, Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Alfred was born at Brixworth, Northants, and enlisted at Pembrey into the 8th Battalion, Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, which was attached to the 76th Brigade, 3rd Division. In 1916 the Battalion fought at the Actions of the Bluff, and at the St Eloi Craters. They were then moved south to the Somme, where they were to take part in the great Battle of the Somme, and fought there at the Battle of Albert, and at the Battle of Bazentin, where they captured Longueval. They then took part in the Battle of Delville Wood, and the Battle of the Ancre, before settling into another bleak winter in France. In May, 1917 the Division were at Arras, and fought at the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, and at the Battle of Arleux and the Third Battle of the Scarpe, where they captured Roeux. Again they moved, this time back to Ypres, where they fought in the Third Battle of Ypres, at the Battle of the Menin Road and the Battle of Polygon Wood. In November the Division moved south again, where they fought at the Battle of Cambrai, and they were in the area during March, 1918 when the German Spring Offensive swept through the British lines, at the Battle of St Quentin and the First Battle of Bapaume. They then fought at the First Battle of Arras, 1918 before being moved to Flanders to rebuild. However the Germans switched the focus of their offensive to Flanders, and the Division were caught up in the worst of the fighting there, at the Battle of Estaires, where Alfred was killed in action, on the 13th April, 1918. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Not on Memorial.
Evan Jones, Stoker, K/53294, Royal Navy. Evan was born in Aberystwyth, and was the late Husband of Violet White (formerly Jones), of 5, Council Houses, Ashburnham Road, Pembrey. He served with the Royal Navy at H.M.S. Vivid, which was the Naval Shore Establishment at Devonport. Evan died of pneumonia on the 17th September, 1918 aged 24, and is buried at Swansea (Danygraig) Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Robert Jones, Private, 20187, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Robert was born at Pembrey, and enlisted at Llanelli into the 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Battalion was attached to the 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, which had landed in France during December 1915, spending their first winter in the trenches near Armentieres. In June they marched south to the Somme, where they were tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. The attack on the wood began on the 7th July, but met with fierce resistance, and it took until the 14th July to clear the wood. Robert was killed in action at Mametz on the 11th July, 1916. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Montague Stanley Melliss, Major, Cameronians. Montague had served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry prior to the war, and then served with the 5th Battalion, Cameronians, who were attached to the 19th Brigade, 33rd Division. The Division moved to France during November, 1915, and saw its first major action during the Battles of the Somme, from July, 1916 onwards. They then fought at the Battle of the Scarpe and at Bullecourt, before heading to Ypres, and fighting at the Menin Road and at Polygon Wood. They were still in Flanders when the German Spring Offensive hit, and fought at the Battle of Messines, the Battle of Hazebrouck and the Battle of Bailleul, where the Division played a part in the Defence of Neuve Eglise. They then took part in the First Battle of Kemmel, and recaptured of Ridge Wood, before being sent to the St. Quentin area. Here they took part in the great offensive which was to end the war, fighting at the Battle of the St Quentin Canal, and the Battle of Cambrai, before moving north east and fighting at the Pursuit to the Selle and the Battle of the Selle. The Division was relieved on the 26th October after capturing Englefontaine, on the southern edge of the Forest of Mormal. Back in action on the 5th November it advanced through the forest and crossed the Sambre. It was near Leval in the Sambre valley on the 11th November, 1918. The Division proceeded to concentrate around Berlaimont, and on the 15th November moved to Montigny near Le Cateau, then on the 6th December to Hornoy, west of Amiens. Here it demobilised. The Division ceased to exist on the 30th June 1918. It had suffered casualties of 37,404 killed, wounded and missing during the course of the Great War. Montague sadly died at Swansea Hospital of sickness on the 4th March, 1919, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard. Not on Memorial.
Griffith John Owen, Private, 229407, Monmouthshire Regiment. Griffith was born at Pembrey, and served with the 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, which was stationed at Newport at the start of the war, as part of Welsh Border Brigade, Welsh Division. In February 1915 the Battalion left the Division and moved to France, where they were attached to 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The Division landed at Le Havre and moved to the Western Front, where it saw its first major action during the Second Battle of Ypres. Following serious casualties at Ypres, a Composite Brigade was formed, composing of the 2nd Battalion, the Buffs, 2nd Battalion, the Cheshire’s, 1st Battalion, the Welsh, and 1st Battalion, the York and Lancaster. It was dissolved on the 19th May 1915, and the formation assumed its normal configuration, taking part in the Battle of Loos. On the 3rd September, 1915 the Battalion transferred as Pioneers to 46th (North Midland) Division, and saw action at the Battle of Loos. On the 23rd December, 1915 the Division was ordered to proceed to Egypt, leaving the Divisional Ammunition Column (for the 55th Division), the Divisional Train (with the 56th Division) and the Mobile Veterinary Section. Most units reached Egypt via Marseilles by the 13th January, 1916. However on the 21st January, 1916 the move of the Division was countermanded and the units were returned to France, whereupon the other units rejoined. Here the Division took part in the Attack on the Gommecourt Salient, which was a diversionary attack on the 1st July, 1916 intended to draw attention away from the main attack on the Somme, but the Division again suffered large numbers of casualties during the attack. They rested for several months at Arras, and at the end of 1916 took part in Operations on the Ancre. During March, 1917 the Division followed the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and then fought in the Battle of Arras, taking part in the Battle of Hill 70. In 1918 the Division were still in the area, when they were hit brought into action to attempt to stop the German Offensive. Griffith was killed in action during the desperate battle on the 12th April, 1918 and is remembered on the Arras Memorial, France. Not on Memorial.
William Richard Rees, Gunner, 215412, Royal Field Artillery. William was the Son of William and Ann Rees, of "Gwernfa," Pembrey, and enlisted at Llanelli into the Royal Field Artillery. He was posted to the 107th Battery, 21st Brigade, attached to the Indian Army. William died of sickness in India on the 23rd October, 1918 aged 23, and was buried there at Quetta Government Cemetery. He is now remembered on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate), India.
Owen Richards, Private, M/416802, Royal Army Service Corps. Owen was born at Craig-y-Deilo, Llanddowror on the 22nd of May 1890 and educated there at the Church School. He joined the Army Service Corps, Motor Transport, as Private on November 4th 1918 and was drafted to Woolwich Dockyard, Regimental Number M/416802. He was however taken ill with influenza and bronchial pneumonia a few days after he joined up and died at the Davidson Road War Hospital, Carydon on November 22nd 1918. Owen was 28 years old, and was brought to Pembrey for burial at Pembrey (Bethel) Calvinistic Methodist Churchyard.
Walter Webber, Private, 45452, Welsh Regiment. Walter was born at Bristol, and enlisted at Pembrey into the 11th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The Battalion was formed in Cardiff during August, 1914, and became attached to the 67th Brigade, 22nd Division. The Division crossed to France in early September 1915, with all units being concentrated near Flesselles by the 9th of the month. However it's stay in France was to be very short, as on the 27th October, 1915 the Division, having been moved by train to Marseilles, began to embark for Salonika. It completed concentration there in November, although the final artillery units were still coming in as late as the 13th December 1915. It remained in the theatre for the rest of the war, taking part in the Retreat from Serbia during December, 1915. Between the 10th to the 18th August 1916 they fought at the battle of Horseshoe Hill, then between the 13th to the 14th September 1916 at the battle of Machukovo. Between the 24th-25th April and the 8th-9th May, 1917 the Division fought at the battle of Doiran, and then on the 18th September 1918 at the Second Battle of Doiran, where Walter was killed in action that day. He is buried at Doiran Military Cemetery, Greece. Not on Memorial.
John Edward Zachariah, Private, 56682, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of Henry and Margaret Zachariah, of 3, Vernon Place, Briton Ferry. John had been born at Pembrey, and had enlisted at Cardiff into the 18th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to the 119th Brigade, 40th (Bantam) Division. This Division was formed between September and December 1915, composed of bantam units and others which had a mixture of regulation-height and shorter men. Weeding out of very under-sized or unfit men delayed the training programme, and it was not until late spring 1916 that the Division was ready to proceed on active service. The Division moved to France between the 1st and 9th June, and moved to the front near Loos. Late in 1916 they moved south to the Somme, and fought at the Battle of the Ancre, and remained in the area over the winter. In March, 1917 the Germans withdrew to their shortened line, called the Hindenburg Line, and the 40th Division were one of the Divisions that followed the withdrawal. Later in the year they took part in the Battle of Cambrai, playing an important role in the attack on Bourlon Wood. John was killed in action at Cambrai on the 24th November, 1917. He was 25 years old, and has no known grave, and so he is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.
Pembrey War Memorial
World War Two, 1939-1945
Spencer Rhys Bevan-John, Pilot Officer, 81933, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Spencer was the Son of Rhys Bevan John, B.A., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. and Katharine Bevan John, of Pembrey. He was a Scholar of Brasenose College, Oxford, when he volunteered into the RAFVR, and trained as a Pilot. Spencer was posted to 53 Squadron, which flew the Bristol Blenheim IV, based at Thorney Island. Soon after the outbreak of war 53 Squadron moved to France to undertake strategic reconnaissance duties. The Squadron returned to the UK in May 1940 to fly reconnaissance missions from south-east England and in July began bombing sorties. Spencer must have been wounded on one of these sorties, as he died at home on the 30th September, 1940 aged only 19. He is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard. Spencer’s brother D.R.S. Bevan-John was captured by the Italians when he was a crew-member aboard a Sunderland of 228 Squadron, that was shot down in the Mediterranean on the 6th August, 1941.
Brinley Colwill, Third Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. Brinley was the Son of Leonard Henry and Margaret Elizabeth Colwill, of Pembrey, and served in the Merchant Navy aboard the S.S. Treverbyn (St. Ives). Brinley was killed when serving as the 3rd Engineer on the SS Treverbyn, when she was sunk by the German Submarine U-82, en-route from Russia to Manchester in Convoy SL-89, with a cargo of iron ore on the 21st October, 1941. He was 23 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Evan Arthur Davies, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), 101537, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Evan was the Son of Evan Jenkin and Catherine Davies, and the husband of Elizabeth Lilian Davies, of Pembrey. He served with 50 Squadron, RAF, which flew the Avro Lancaster I, based at Skellingthorpe. In 1942 No. 50 Squadron converted to Avro Manchesters, then to Avro Lancasters, and in October of that year contributed twelve Lancasters to No. 5 Group's celebrated low-Ievel dusk raid on the Schneider works at Le Creusot. In 1943 it took part in the first shuttle-bombing raid (when the targets were a radar factory at Friedrichshafen and the Italian naval base at Spezia), and the epic raid on the German V-weapons experimental establishment at Peenemunde. On the night of the 13th February, 1943 Evan and his crew took off from Skellingthorpe, and formed part of a massive 466 bomber raid on Lorient. Evan’s Lancaster was sadly one of just two that were intercepted and shot down on the outward flight, and it cam down in France. Evan was killed in the crash, aged 32, and is buried at Gavres Communal Cemetery, France. Not on Memorial.
Vincent Howell Davies, Fusilier, 4198779, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Vincent was the Son of Stephen and Sarah Davies, and served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers. In 1942 the Battalion sailed for the Far East, and arrived in India at the end of May, 1942. They fought during the campaign in Burma against the Japanese, which is where Vincent was killed, during the Battle of Kohima, on the 6th May, 1944. He was 26 years old, and is remembered on the Rangoon Memorial.
William David Davies, Able Seaman, D/JX 291205, Royal Navy. William was the Son of David and Sophia Jane Davies, of Pembrey, and served in the Royal Navy at H.M.S. President III. President was a Naval Shore Base, and William had been attached from there to serve on the S.S. Solon II, which was a French ship that had been seized from the Vichy French, and pressed to use with the British Merchant Navy. She was torpedoed and sank off Brazil on the 2nd December, 1942. William was killed with the sinking of the ship that day. He was just 21 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Lawrence Winson Gange, Private, 3970535, Welch Regiment. Lawrence was the son of Charles and Harriet Gange, of Burry Port, and the husband of Margaret Gange. He served with the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment, which was in Palestine at the outbreak of war. They served in the Western Desert before being moved to Crete, where they were virtually annihilated, before the survivors were evacuated to North Africa. Here they again suffered badly, and were rebuilt before taking part in the Invasions of Sicily and then Italy, which is where Lawrence was killed on the 19th September, 1944. He was 32 years old, and is buried at Gradara War Cemetery, Italy.
Frederick Gravell, Able Seaman, D/JX 165666, Royal Navy. Frederick was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gravell, of Pembrey, and served with the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Gloucester. In September 1939, Gloucester was flagship of the 4th Cruiser Squadron, serving in the East Indies and spent the rest of that year patrolling the Indian Ocean. In December, she was moved to Simonstown, South Africa where she was used, unsuccessfully, against German raiders. She was transferred again in May 1940, this time to the Mediterranean, where she experienced plenty of action. She was involved in Malta convoys and the Battle of Calabria on 9 July 1940. An Italian air attack on 8 July had hit the ship's bridge killing or wounding most of the bridge personnel, including the Captain. The second half of 1940 was spent in the eastern Mediterranean and in the Aegean. On the 11th January 1941, while supporting Operation Excess (several coordinated convoys), Gloucester was hit by a bomb which failed to explode. In March, she was at the Battle of Matapan and, in April, performed several bombardments along the North African coast. A second bomb hit caused minor damage. Gloucester formed part of a naval force acting against German military transports to Crete, with some success. On the 22nd May, 1941, while in the Kithera Channel, about 14 miles north of Crete, she was attacked by German Stuka dive bombers and sank, having sustained at least four heavy bomb hits and three near-misses. 723 lives were lost, with just 82 survivors. Her sinking is considered to be one of Britain's worst wartime naval disasters. Frederick was one of the poor souls lost aboard the Gloucester that day. He was 33 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Benjamin Griffiths, Private, 3963640, Welch Regiment. Benjamin served with the 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment, which was the local Territorial Battalion for West Wales. Very little is known of him, but he died at sea on the 2nd July, 1940 and is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial, Surrey. He was 33 years old. Two steamships were sunk that day. The Aeneas was bombed and sank by German Aircraft off Plymouth, and the Arandora Star was torpedoed off the Northwest coast of Ireland by the U-47, commanded by Gunther Prien. Over 600 Italian and German detainees who were being transported to Canada were lost in the sinking of the Arandora Star. Benjamin was probably aboard one of these ships.
Gwynfryn James Griffiths, Civilian. Gwynfryn was the Son of William J. and Louisa Griffiths, of 4 Block, Penybedd, Pembrey. He worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Pembrey, which made TNT for use in shells. On the 10th July, 1940 the factory was bombed by the Luftwaffe, and Gwynfryn was one of many injured men brought to the Llanelli Hospital for treatment, but he sadly died that same day. He was just 19 years old, and is buried at Llanelli Rural District Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
James Havard, Police Sergeant. James was a Policeman, of Ashburnham Road, Pembrey, who was on duty at the Pembrey Royal Ordnance Factory on the day of the 10th July, 1940 when it was bombed. He was badly injured, and taken to Llanelli Hospital, but sadly died there the following day, of the 11th July, 1940. James was 64 years old, and is buried at Llanelli Borough Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
David Alan Vaughan John, Sergeant (Pilot), 1385838, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. David was the Son of Arthur S. and Ethel E. John. He served with 35 Squadron, RAF, which was re-formed in November, 1940 for the express purpose of introducing the new Handley Page Halifax into operational service. It flew its first sorties on Halifaxes on the night of 11/12th March 1941, when the target was Le Havre. During the rest of 1941 the squadron bombed a variety of targets in Germany and occupied France, some of the raids being undertaken in daylight. In July No. 35 made its first raid on Berlin, and in September made the 1,700-mile trip to Turin in Northern Italy. In February 1942, it was one of the squadrons which attempted to stop the German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during their escape dash from Brest to North German ports. April saw two unsuccessful attacks on the Tirpitz lying near Trondheim fjord, and at the end of May the squadron contributed 18 Halifaxes to the historic 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne. When the Pathfinder Force was formed in August 1942, with the object of securing more concentrated and effective bombing by marking targets with incendiary bombs and flares dropped from aircraft flown by experienced crews, using the latest navigational equipment, No. 35 was one of the five squadrons selected to form the nucleus of the new force. The first Pathfinder Force attack was against Flensburg on 18/19th August 1942, and the new technique soon proved its value. David was killed when his Halifax was brought down over Holland on the 28th August, 1942. He is buried at Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery.
Henry James Jones, Sick Bay Assistant, D/MX 80956, Royal Navy. Henry was the Son of Abraham and Edith Jones, of Pembrey, and served in the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Jaguar. HMS Jaguar was a J class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by William Denny, Brothers and Company, Limited, of Dumbarton in Scotland on the 25th November 1937, launched on the 22nd November, 1938 and commissioned on the 12th September, 1939. Jaguar participated in Operation Abstention in February and the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941. Jaguar was struck by two torpedoes fired by the enemy German submarine U-652 and sank off Sidi Barrani in Egypt on the 26th March 1942 with the loss of 190 of her crew. Henry was one of the men lost that day. He was 21 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
William Thomas Jones, Gunner, 1063392, Royal Artillery. William was the Husband of Gladys May Jones, of Pembrey and served with the 563rd Coastal Regiment, Royal Artillery. This was an Anti-Aircraft unit that had been formed at Deal in April, 1941, but little else can be found of them. William died on the 11th October, 1943 aged 37, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard.
John C. Knowles, Fourth Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. John was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Knowles, of Pembrey and served in the Merchant Navy aboard the M.V. Darlington Court (London). Darlington Court was a British Motor Cargo Vessel of 4,974 tons built in 1936. On the 20th May 1941 when on route from New York via Halifax to Liverpool in Convoy HX-126, and carrying a cargo of 8,116 tons of wheat and aircraft, she was torpedoed by German submarine U-556 when 126 miles south of Cape Farewell. The master Charles Hurst, ten crew members and one gunner from the Darlington Court were picked up by the rescue ship Hontestroom and landed at Reykjavik on the 27th May. 22 crew members, three gunners and three passengers were lost, one of which was the 20 year old John Knowles. He is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial.
John Mansel-Lewis, Flying Officer (Pilot), 42248, Royal Air Force. John was born on the 11th October, 1920, the Son of Archie and Muriel Mansel-Lewis, of Cliff Cottage, Pembrey. He was educated at Larbrook, Bracknell and at Stowe, and joined the RAF in May, 1939. John was posted to 27 Squadron, which flew the Bristol Blenheim IF, based at Kallang in Malaya. When the Japanese invaded Malaya, the Squadron virtually ceased to exist. John was killed there on the 4th April, 1941 aged just 20, and is buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.
John S. Moss, Gunner, 1761124, Royal Artillery. John was the Son of Charles and Martha Moss, of Pembrey, and served with the 56th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. The Regiment had served during the Battle of Norway, and after evacuation had moved to North Africa, taking part in the Campaign in the Western Desert. They then took part in the invasion of Italy, where John was killed on the 13th November, 1944. He was 37 years old, and is buried at Florence War Cemetery, Italy.
William Richard Rees, M.I.D., Staff Sergeant, 7608876, Royal Army Ordnance Corps. William was the Son of John and Gwenllian Rees, of Pembrey, and served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. William had been Mentioned in Despatches at some time during the war, and died in Egypt on the 9th January, 1944 aged 25. He is buried at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
David Edward Reynolds, Private, 14206549, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). David was the Son of Frederick and Dorcas Reynolds, of Pembrey, and served with the 2/7th Battalion, the Queen’s Royal Regiment. The Battalion had been in France with the BEF in 1940, and had been evacuated from Dunkirk. They then joined the 8th Army in the Western Desert, and fought throughout the campaign there, and at the invasion of Italy, at Salerno and Anzio. David was killed in Italy on the 29th January, 1945. He was 22 years old, and is buried at Forli War Cemetery, Italy.
William Leyson Rhys, Sergeant (Pilot), 1380898, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the Son of Tudor Leyson Rhys and Miriam Rhys, of Pembrey. There is very little information available about William, except that he died on the 31st October, 1942 aged just 20, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard.
Alexander Macdonald Smith, Second Lieutenant, 99738, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Alexander was the Son of Alex and Ada Macdonald Smith, of Pembrey, and served with the 7th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. The Battalion served as a Machine Gun unit, attached to the 51st (Highland) Division, which was stationed in France on the Maginot Line in 1940. They had thus escaped being encircled with the rest of the BEF at Dunkirk, and was then pulled back to the west of Northern France, where it was attached to the French 10th Army. For some time, it was forced to hold a line four times longer than that which would normally be expected of a division. During this period, the 154th Brigade was detached and withdrawn successfully. However, the 152nd Brigade and 153rd Brigade were trapped at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux, and surrendered on the 12th June, 1940. Alexander was killed that very day of the surrender of the Battalion. He was 23 years old, and is buried at Houdetot Churchyard, France.
Gordon Ashton Twyford, Writer, D/MX 64722, Royal Navy. Gordon was the Son of Christopher B. and Mary Twyford, of Pembrey, and served in the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Lively. She was an L-Class Destroyer, and had seen much service in the North Atlantic, and during the Battle of Norway, before being moved to the Mediterranean, where she took part in the Malta Convoys. On the 10th May, 1942 the Lively was sent as part of a small task force to intercept a German Convoy on passage to Benghazi between Crete and North African coast. The force had been warned that there was limited air cover, and to return to Gibraltar if any enemy aircraft were spotted, but the following day they were spotted and attacked by Dive Bombers, and the Lively was sank very quickly in a position 100 miles NE of Tobruk with heavy loss of life. Gordon lost his life aboard her that day. He was 25 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Thomas Henry Williams, Signalman, 2342946, Royal Corps of Signals. Thomas was the Son of David and Harriet Williams, and the husband of Marion Kathleen Williams, of Burry Port. He served with 5 Air Formation Signals, Royal Corps of Signals, which served in the Middle East, in support of the Royal Air Force. They had been formed in Cyprus on the 21st February, 1942, and had moved to Palestine by 1943. Thomas was killed there, sometime between the 26th and 27th August, 1943. He was 24 years old, and is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
R.A.F. Pembrey
RAF Pembrey started as a training base for anti-aircraft gunners in 1936, with 280 Ground Defence Squadron. In 1938 plans were drawn up for an airfield and the airbase was operational by 1939. After the loss of France there was a great need for airfields to defend Britain from the Luftwaffe and Pembrey became a Battle of Britain fighter base, and formed part of 10 Group, Fighter Command. Headquarters of 10 Group were at RAF Box, which controlled the airfields in its area. Pembrey was home to 92 Squadron from the 18th June, 1940, and then to 79 Squadron from the 8th September, 1940. The area saw a great deal of action with both the airfield and the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory at Pembrey being major targets for German bombers, and it is believed that 25 official kills were accredited to aircraft flown out of Pembrey during this time. In 1941 Pembrey became an RAF Gunnery School, equipped with Vickers Wellington’s, Fairey Battles and Bristol Blenheim’s, using the airfield's Spitfires as dummy targets to teach the crews how to shoot down enemy fighters. Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., of ‘Dambusters’ fame was once stationed at Pembrey.
A noteworthy incident was the story of Oberleutnant Arnim Faber, Adjutant of III fighter Gruppe of JG2, who on the 23rd of June 1942 had engaged Spitfires over the south coast of Britain and on heading towards Exeter, mistook the Bristol Channel for the English Channel. Being short on fuel, he landed at Pembrey believing it to be a Luftwaffe airfield in France. The Pembrey Duty Pilot, a Sgt. Jeffreys, grabbed a Very pistol and ran from the control tower and jumped onto the wing of Faber's aircraft as it taxied in. Ironically, Faber was piloting the latest enemy fighter, the Focke Wulf 190A, a type the RAF had only ever seen flying over France. Below is a photograph of the actual aeroplane, courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.
In 1945 Fighter Command once again took over the base, and RAF Pembrey became home to 233 Operational Conversion Unit which flew De Havilland Vampires and Hawker Hunters. On its closure on the 13th July, 1957, Princess Margaret flew on the last Valetta aircraft to leave the runway. There were five huge hangers for bombers and a number of smaller blister-roofed hangers for fighter aircraft but these were taken down in 1962 and only two remain. There was an observation tower near Allt Cunedda Farm, a radio station on the Pinged Road and a domed star navigation building that still stands on the approach to the airfield. There were a series of anti-aircraft batteries and numerous pillboxes to defend the area, as well as numerous concrete anti aircraft emplacements used to train Gunnery crews. Along the railway line tank blocks protected against invasion and along the top end of Cefn Sidan, the stakes that defended against landings are still visible at low tide.
Pembrey has been host to many Squadrons and aircraft types over its time. The following were the main Squadrons stationed at Pembrey during its active history. Although not an extensive list, it gives an insight into the character of Pembrey during its service history:
Squadron Numbers 595, 92 & 118 flew Spitfires; Numbers 32, 79 & 316 (formed at Pembrey) flew Hurricanes; Numbers 238 & 248 flew Bristol Beaufighter’s; Numbers 256 & 307 flew the Bolton Paul Defiant’s, and Number 233 OCU flew Vampires, Tempest, Mosquito, Meteors and Hunters from there. Below is an early Spitfire, on display at RAF Cosford Air Museum.
Burials at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard
(But not named on Pembrey War Memorial)
There are five Commonwealth burials of the 1914-18 war here, and there are twenty two more burials of the 1939-45 war, one of which is an unidentified airman of the R.A.F. There are also seven Polish Air Force war burials here. Some of these men were locals, and have been remembered on the Pembrey War Memorial. Those who are not on the Memorial are remembered below. I haven’t photos of the Polish Airmen’s graves, but at the bottom of this page is the list of the seven men who are buried here at Pembrey.
David Jack Blair, Sergeant (Pilot), 754538, Royal Air Force. David was the Son of William Blair and Margaret Blair (nee Wood). He served as a Pilot at RAF Pembrey, and died on the 17th September, 1940 aged just 21. David is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1, Grave 7.
George Warden Brown, Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr. U/T), 970851, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Gordon was the Son of Robert and Mary Brown of Dundee. He was training at RAF Pembrey as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner when he was killed on the 17th September, 1940. He was 20 years old, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 6.
John Douglas Laing Cooper, Sergeant, 971470, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was the Son of James D. Cooper and Robina M. Cooper of Giffnock, Renfrewshire. He served at RAF Pembrey, and was killed on the 17th September, 1940. John was 22 years old, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 5.
Montague Beaumont Glover, Lieutenant, 159476, Royal Artillery. Montague was the Son of Beaumont and Louisa Vernon Jane Rigby Glover, and the husband of Vera Annette Elizabeth Glover of Herne Hill, London. He served with the Royal Artillery, based at RAF Pembrey, probably in charge of an Anti Aircraft gun, when he died on the 11th August, 1941. He was 47 years old, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 17.
Harold George Henry, Leading Aircraftman, (W.Op/Air Gunner), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Harold was the Son of George and Mabel Frances Henry, and the husband of Kate Ivy Henry. He died on the 24th May, 1942 aged 31, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 21.
John Harvey Hutchinson, Wing Commander (Pilot), 16112, Royal Air Force. John was the Son of William and Asta Hutchinson, of Finchampstead, Berkshire, and the husband of Beatrice K. Hutchinson, of Finchampstead. John died at Pembrey on the 8th October, 1940 and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 10.
George Alfred Layton, Leading Aircraftman (W.Op/Air Gunner), 1376316, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. George was the Son of John T. Layton and Elizabeth H. Layton, of Ilford, Essex. He died at Pembrey on the 24th May, 1942 aged 24, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard.
Wilfred Leonard Morris, Leading Aircraftman (W.Op/Air Gunner), 1259526, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Wilfred was the Son of Frederick Wilfred L. Morris and Gladys Morris, of Ealing, Middlesex. Wilfred died at RAF Pembrey on the 1st August, 1941 aged 25, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 18.
Robert Noble, Gunner, 1744624, Royal Artillery. Robert was serving at RAF Pembrey with the 66th Battery, 80th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, when he died on the 11th February, 1942. Robert is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 19.
Stephen John Maxwell Ogilvie, Sub-Lieutenant (A), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Stephen was the Son of Sir William Heanage Ogilvie and Lady Vere Magdalen Ogilvie (nee Quilter), of St. John's Wood, London. He served at the Royal Naval Air Station H.M.S.Vulture, which was situated at St. Merryn, Cornwall. Stephen died on the 7th October, 1943 aged 22, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 2. Grave 3.
Alec Frederick Prior, Aircraftman 2nd Class, 1357325, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Alec was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Prior, and the husband of Elsie Mary Prior, of Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He died at RAF Pembrey on the 15th April, 1941 aged 27, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 15.
Bernard James Skelly, Warrant Officer, 418189, Royal Australian Air Force. Bernard was born on the 5th April, 1918 in Australia, the Son of Bernard James and Katherine Mary Skelly, and the husband of Nancy Pearl Skelly, of 9, Murchison Street, St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Bernard was posted to the 1st Air Gunnery School at RAF Pembrey, and was sadly killed in an accident there on the 26th January, 1945 aged 26. Bernard is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 2. Grave 22.
Basil York Sowter, Pilot Officer (Pilot), 42083, Royal Air Force. Basil died at RAF Pembrey on the 17th September, 1940 and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 8.
Beverley John Wentworth Thomson, Flying Officer, 421138, Royal Australian Air Force. Beverley was born on the 25th March, 1923, the Son of Harold Wentworth Thomson and Madge Thomson of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. He had married Mary Thomson, of Llanelly, while posted to the 12th Advanced Flying School at RAF Pembrey, where he was killed in an aircraft accident on the 6th January, 1945 aged just 21. He is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 2. Grave 23.
Charles Albert Venn, Sergeant (Pilot), 969799, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Charles was the Son of Charles Edward and Alice Edith Venn, of Penarth, Glamorgan, and was at RAF Pembrey attached to 79 Squadron, which were then based there, equipped with the Hawker Hurricane Mark I. Charles was killed on the 24th February, 1941 aged 26, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 14.
Lionel Hubert Wakeford, D.F.C., Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. The earliest record traced of Lionel so far was when he was gazetted as a Temporary Warrant Officer with the RAF on the 20th March, 1942. He was permanently commissioned as a Flight Lieutenant on the 20th December, 1949. Lionel was serving at the Fighter Training School at RAF Pembrey after the war. He was training a Pilot, W.H. Williams, in a Vampire Jet, when it crashed during an attempted landing at RAF Pembrey on the 22nd September, 1953. Both men were killed on impact, and Lionel is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard. On the 9th March that year, another Vampire Pilot based at Pembrey had been killed, when he crashed into a field at Llanybri.
William Richard Aelwyn Walters, Pilot Officer (Pilot), 61501, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the Son of the Reverend Canon Thomas William Walters, M.A. and Emmeline Florence Walters of Branksome Park, Bournemouth, Hampshire. He served as a Pilot with 79 Squadron, which was based at RAF Pembrey, equipped with the Hawker Hurricane I. William was killed on the 27th April, 1941 aged 29, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard, Row 1. Grave 16.
The Unknown Airman. The grave of this poor man states that he was buried on the 25th May, 1943. The base is carved with the simple, yet moving, enscription chosen by Rudyard Kipling after World War One, and which adorns thousands of graves of unknown Allied servicemen; 'Known Unto God'.
Polish Air Force Burials at Pembrey
Bohdan Anders, Pilot Officer, 79 Squadron. Died on the 2nd June, 1941.
Olech Antoni Kawczynski, Pilot Officer, 79 Squadron. Died on the 8th May, 1941.
Jacek Zygmunt Fran. Kinel, Sergeant Pilot. Died on the 8th May, 1944.
Waclaw Oyrzanowski, Flight Sergeant. Died on the 28th June, 1943.
Stan. Piatkowski, Pilot Officer, 79 Squadron. Died on the 25th October, 1940 when he crashed his Hurricane near Carew Cheriton after a routine patrol over Linney Head.
Stan. Szmejl, Flying Officer (Pilot), 79 Squadron. Died on the 24th June, 1941.
Leon Jan Watorowski, Pilot Officer. Died either on the 2nd or the 8th December, 1944.
Pilots of 79 Squadron in November, 1940 were involved mostly in patrolling the coast and their base at Pembrey with the chance for a kill rarely presenting itself. The fruitless patrols and the boredom of waiting were sometimes interrupted by well remembered events. Donald Stones relates two stories about Sgt. Wlodzimierz Mudry in his book ‘Poles in Defence of Britain’;
"We had two artists in the squadron now. John Parker, who was already established as the keeper and illustrator of our unofficial Squadron diary, and Sergeant Mudry, one of three newly acquired Polish pilots... Parker and Mudry decorated the walls of our mess with exciting drawings in coloured chalk of near-nude chorus girls and caricatures of aerial battles in which 79 Squadron always came off badly. Of the girls, one magnificent specimen with much leg and what we call an air-cooled chest, wore only a short pair of black French knickers, attached by drawing pins to the wall. A visiting VIP of high rank fell into the trap and through unendurable curiosity, casually lifted the knickers, to be confronted with a card bearing the message: 'You have a dirty mind. Put 2s 6d in the beer kitty.' "
On another occasion:
"Sergeant Mudry, who was a bit gullible, was persuaded to climb on to the roof of our hut while we all snoozed inside, near the tortoise-stove glowing with almost incandescent coke, and put a Very light cartridge down the chimney. The result was most impressive. The cartridge exploded, the stove lost its lid and stocking-doo, the hut was filled with red smoke, while hot cinders flew in all directions and small fires started. Oddly, no one was killed or injured. No hut was ever more quickly evacuated. Mudry was grounded for two days... "
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